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Getting Started
Welcome to Snap Art
Snap Art is a Photoshop-compatible plug-in that easily turns photos into works of art. Snap Art consists of ten filters that show up in Photoshop's Filter menu. Each filter is named after the natural media that it simulates. To get started, you can simply browse through each filter's factory settings to see the range of effects it can achieve. When you feel more ambitious, the rest of this online help can guide you through making your own settings.Requirements
Compatible Host Programs
Macintosh Systems
- Adobe Photoshop CS or later
- Adobe Photoshop Elements 4 or later
- Corel Paint Shop Pro XI or later
- 512 MB RAM
- 1024 x 768 or greater monitor resolution
- Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later
- PowerPC G4 or G5 processor
Windows Systems
- 512 MB RAM
- 1024 x 768 or greater monitor resolution
- Windows XP or later
- Pentium 4 or later processor or Pentium 4 compatible
Choosing the Right Filter for Your Image
Any Snap Art filter will work on any photo, but the following guidelines will help you narrow in on the look you want.Turning a portrait into a traditional work of art is probably the most common task for Snap Art. If you want to make the subject realistic, your best bet is Oil Paint, Pastel, or Impasto with a small brush size.
For a traditional yet more abstract look, try Color Pencil, Pencil Sketch, Pointillism, or Watercolor. The result will look like traditional hand drawn media, but the result will be less detailed than the previous filters.
If you want a really funky modern look, try Comics, Stylize, or Pen and Ink. Comics can keep the subject recognizable while turning it into something Andy Warhol might have done. For a more abstract look, Stylize or Pen and Ink can dramatically simplify the photo.
Experimenting Is Easy
Don't be scared to fiddle with the sliders to make your own settings. We promise that you can't break a filter. You can't get it stuck in a weird state because we've given you some escape mechanisms.Snap Art lets you undo and redo all your slider changes. To undo a change, press Control+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Macintosh). To redo a change, press Control+Y (Windows) or Command+Y (Macintosh).
Every filter has a Factory Default setting. Clicking this setting resets the current filter to a reasonable state. You can also press F5 (Windows) or Command+R (Macintosh) to reset the filter.
For more info on secret handshakes and super-efficient finger motions, consult the list of Keyboard Shortcuts.
Getting Help
As you move the cursor over the Snap Art window, help text appears at the bottom of the window to explain each control. For more extensive help, press F1 (Windows) or Help (Macintosh).Registering Snap Art
You must register your software to receive technical support and critical product updates. Registration also qualifies you for product discounts and upgrade pricing on future versions of Snap Art. If you purchased Snap Art directly from Alien Skin Software, you were automatically registered with us. You need to register only if you purchased Snap Art elsewhere.Register online at http://www.alienskin.com/register. If you don't have access to the World Wide Web, mail in the registration card that was included with your software.
Enjoy the Filters!
That's it for the opening section. We designed Snap Art to be both fun and easy to use. We hope you enjoy using the filters.